Directed Energy News
Article Picture from (cimsec.org)
Gulf of Aden (Dec. 14, 2021) – Amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland (LPD 27) conducts a high-energy laser weapon system demonstration on a static surface training target. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Donald Holbert)
The Coming of Age of Directed Energy Weapons and the Red Sea Crisis / CIMSEC
In this May 8th, 2024 article, Dr. Bonnie Johnson discusses the escalating conflict in the Red Sea, with the potential future role that Directed Energy (DE) can play toward handling the new threats recently faced in that area of operations.
Article Picture from www.military.com
The Army's Palletized High Energy Laser, or P-HEL, during testing at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, in April 2022. Based on BlueHalo's LOCUST Laser Weapon System, the P-HEL was recently deployed to an undisclosed location overseas. (U.S. Army photo/Brandon Mejia)
The Army Has Officially Deployed Laser Weapons Overseas to Combat Enemy Drones
In this April 24th, 2024 article, Jared Keller discusses the U.S. Army's deployment of their Palletized High Energy Laser, or P-HEL for use in combating enemy drones.
"news of the P-HEL's operational employment marks the U.S. military's first publicly acknowledged deployment of a working laser weapon for air defense outside of experimental testing."
Article Picture from www.QinetiQ.com
QinetiQ reports first successful flights of new design Rattler Supersonic Target
In this March 20th, 2024 article, QinetiQ publishes a press release outlining their successful test of (2) Rattler MkI Missiles in coordination with High Energy Laser System Test Facility (HELSTF) at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). This flight test is a critical milestone as the first ever flights of this supersonic platform at WSMR.
SemQuest applauds this successful test of the flight platform planned for future integration efforts of a SemQuest HEL target.
Article Picture from https://www.c4isrnet.com/
US Testing Stryker-mounted lasers in Iraq amid Middle East drone boom
In this March 22nd, 2024 article, Colin Demarest of www.c4isrnet.com discusses the active use of the US Army's 50 kW HEL-equipped Stryker vehicles in Iraq as part of an effort to test High Energy Lasers as a countermeasure to hostile drones.
Article Picture from https://www.militaryaerospace.com/
Army High Energy Laser (HEL) Request For Proposal (RFP) Update
In this February 14th, 2024 article, John Keller of Military Aerospace.com discusses the US Army's effort to reach out to industry to find companies interested in developing prototype laser weapons able to embed with maneuver elements for protection against hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The UK has test fired the DragonFire high energy laser weapon against ‘aerial targets’ for the first time (UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory)
UK Directed Energy Update
In this January 19th, 2024 article, Tim Martin of Breaking Defense reports on the UK's successful employment of HEL weapon systems.
(Lockheed Martin Image)
Navy Directed Energy Update
In this January 10th, 2024 article, John Harper of DefenseScoop reports SECNAV's intent to boost funding for directed energy.
Article Picture from www.laserfocusworld.com
MLD supplies coating for SemQuest HEL beam measurement system
In this August 20th, 2013 article, Gail Overton of Laser Focus World reports. Optical coatings manufacturer MLD Technologies has supplied a low-loss "leaky mirror" coating for use in a new fieldable sensor used as a High Energy Laser (HEL) beam diagnostic.